On February 4, 2026, for conservation reasons, the statue of Jean-François Champollion was removed from the Collège de France, where it had stood since 1878. After restoration, it will be moved to the Camille Claudel Museum in Nogent-sur-Marne. Moved, admired, and criticized on several occasions, this sculpture is a little-known work by a renowned artist: Auguste Bartholdi, creator of, among other works, the Lion of Belfort and the Statue of Liberty . Both the statue and its creator are linked to the Collège de France. This project therefore provides an opportunity to revisit the history of this work.
This conservation and restoration project for the statue of Jean-François Champollion was carried out with the support of the Louis Vicat Foundation, which works to preserve cultural heritage and promote scientific culture.
